Total global production totaled 97,061 units, 96.2 percent of the production in the year ago period. Japanese production came to 56,357 units, representing a 29.2 percent increase year-on-year.

Total sales in Japan came to 15,067 units, an 8.2 percent increase over April 2005, marking the twelfth consecutive month of year-on-year growth in the domestic market. Despite weakness in the registered car category (down 8.1 percent year-on-year) which affected the Japanese automotive industry as a whole, the continued strong sales of new models such as the "i " minicar have driven overall sales higher. Total sales for passenger cars came to 10,048 units, a strong 19.0 percent increase over the volume for the same period last year, while commercial vehicle sales decreased to 5,019 units, or 91.5 percent of the April 2005 total.

Overseas production for the month declined to 40,704 units, or 71.1 percent of the amount manufactured in April of last year. European production rose 12.8 percent over the previous year to 6,428 units. Asian production totaled 24,539 units, 56.9 percent of the previous period's total, with the decline stemming from the end of production of models at MMC's partner Proton in Malaysia. Lastly, production in North America grew to 6,125 units, representing 40.4 percent growth year-on-year due to continued strong sales of the new Eclipse sporty coupe and Eclipse Spyder convertible models. In its first month on the market, the new Eclipse Spyder realized a 89.7 percent increase in unit sales over the previous model's April 2005 total.

Total exports from Japan fell to 22,321 units, 80.8 percent of the year ago total. Exports to Europe decreased to 7,150 units, a 25.1 percent decline year-on-year. Exports to Asia came in at 1,765 units, or 46.7 percent of the export volume April 2005, while exports to the North American market fell to 2,180 units, a 17.0 percent fall year-on-year.